WEST COUNTY -- Crofton * Odenton * Fort Meade * Gambrills

A county police helicopter search led to the arrests yesterday of a Severn man and his 16-year-old companion for allegedly breaking into a county landfill and causing more than $50,000 damage.

Eric William Smith, 18, of the 100 block of Gambrills Road, has been charged with four counts of breaking and entering, three counts of theft of over $300 and four counts of destruction of property.

Charges are pending against the juvenile.

County police said they responded to a burglar alarm at the Anne Arundel County Landfill at 389 Burns Crossing Road about 2:30 a.m. yesterday. Police discovered three trailers and a storage building had been forcibly entered, then began searching the landfill from the helicopter.

Police spotted two people bailing out of a truck and fleeing into a nearby wooded area. The two were arrested.

Police reported $50,000 damage to storage buildings, vehicles and other property in the incident, but provided no specifics. Police said Mr. Smith and the juvenile also admitted to being involved in a similar incident at the landfill in June. Damage in the June incident totaled $20,000.

Undercover crack buy leads to 2 arrests

County police arrested two men on drug charges and seized $3,600 worth of crack cocaine Thursday night, ending a monthlong investigation.

An undercover officer said he negotiated the sale of 31 grams of cocaine and made arrangements to buy the drugs at a motel in western Anne Arundel County. The two men were arrested when they delivered the drugs to the room. Police refused to release the name of the motel.

A third suspect was approached in the parking lot, but drove off and eluded police after a brief chase in which he rammed a county police car. No injuries were reported.

Police said they seized 36 grams of crack cocaine, $1,524 in cash, a 1979 Chevy and a 1988 Chevy Blazer.

Bryan Lee White, 21, of the 6600 block of Westmoreland Ave., Takoma Park, and Richard Alan Krovich, 23, of the 14000 block of Bramble Lane, in Laurel, were charged with distribution of crack cocaine, possession with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine.

2 teen-agers rob boy of $800 bike

Two teen-agers, one armed with a handgun, robbed a 13-year-old boy of an $800 bike Thursday evening outside a library in Severn.

County police said the older teen approached the boy outside the Provinces Library on Ridge Road a few minutes before 7 p.m.

One youth threatened the boy, whom police refused to name, with a handgun hidden in the front pocket of his shorts. Police said the pair forced the boy to unlock his BMX-style bike that he had secured to a pole.

The armed youth rode off on that bike and the second suspect stole a $400 bicycle that was parked, but unsecured, nearby. Police said there were no witnesses.